Kai Sotto barely got any action to end his 2023 NBA Summer League campaign as the Orlando Magic suffered a 94-77 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, July 16 (Manila time), at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Kai Sotto suffers from back pain as he ends his first NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic. (Orlando Magic Facebook)

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After making his long-awaited debut two days prior, the Filipino center went scoreless in limited action as he was reportedly suffering from a back pain that kept him on the bench in the second half.

Sotto was fielded in the opening quarter and registered two rebounds and one block after three minutes and 44 seconds off the bench, where the Magic led 20-16.

The 7-foot-3 center then went back to the floor late in the second quarter and tallied a lone assist as he remained scoreless in three attempts after a total of eight minutes of play.

Orlando absorbed its fifth straight loss in the preseason tournament, first an 89-78 drubbing against the Detroit Pistons followed by a 108-85 blowout from the Indiana Pacers, where the Filipino crowd erupted with a “We want Sotto” chant.

The Magic still couldn’t make their breakthrough and suffered an 82-80 overtime defeat against the New York Knicks before the Gilas big man made the most of his debut in their 88-71 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

After riding the bench for three consecutive games, Sotto tallied six points, four rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 13 minutes and 23 seconds in his first playing opportunity.

The 21-year-old NBA hopeful’s invitation to play for the Magic came after attending several training camps including one for the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and the Knicks weeks prior to the call-up.

It wasn’t the first time Sotto tried his luck in the NBA, the homegrown Filipino went unpicked in the NBA Draft in 2022.

Only this time, the Ateneo product wasn't given reasonable playing time prior to his on-court debut to showcase his talent and skills under the watchful eyes of the league’s scouts and executives.

Sotto headed back to the National Basket League in Australia for the Adelaide 36ers before joining his fellow Filipino imports in the Japan B.League midseason with the Hiroshima Dragonflies.

The big man recently extended his stay with Hiroshima, which has expressed support of his NBA dreams from the beginning.

Sotto is expected to join the Gilas Pilipinas in its stint in the 2023 FIBA World Cup this August.